From Dominick D on January 17, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Good, I can listen to an Obama speech and see what they did to my Jimmy Neutron!

From Mike Gallagher on January 17, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Jimmy's dead, Dom. Move on, huh?

From Dominick D on January 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM
NEVER!!!!!

From Jorge Arnoldson on January 17, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Disney is too overrated for the president to visit.

From Amy Smith on January 17, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Wait...he's visiting WDW to talk about tourism like Disney needs help attracting more visitors? I'm pretty sure all the Orlando area parks are doing just fine - except maybe SeaWorld.

And the Spiderman announcement is good but maybe not immediately coughclosedinfebcough.

Also, does anyone else think Disney bag check will be a nightmare on Thursday?

From Dominick D on January 17, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Jorge, the only reason you say that is because it doesn't have big boy rides. Grow Up.

From 167.8.16.4 on January 17, 2012 at 12:13 PM
In regards to Kentucky Kingdom (I live 15 minutes from Louisville, KY and work downtown): last I heard before the news today about Holiday World, the current owner, Ed Hart, is suing the state of KY to regain the money he lost trying to re-open the park.

From Tim Hillman on January 17, 2012 at 1:02 PM
The fact that Florida will be a swing state in the 2012 election has nothing at all to do with President Obama's visit to Orlando. Nope, not a thing.

From Ashleigh Noad on January 17, 2012 at 1:04 PM
Looking forward to the announcement. No news about announcing the new HP expansion then?

From Robert Niles on January 17, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Just updated the post with detail about Universal's announcement next week. You are correct, Ashleigh. Nothing on the Potter expansion next week.

And I might I suggest that Thursday would be an excellent day to visit Universal or SeaWorld in lieu of Disney, if you were planning such a day on your trip this week? Presidential security is a hassle best avoided on one's vacation - and I doubt that that the public will be able to get anywhere near glimpsing Obama while he's there.

From 63.255.223.58 on January 17, 2012 at 1:09 PM
I really hope your source was mistaken on the parade concept.

Doesn't sound all that strong.

From Michael T on January 17, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Crap next week imma be in IoA I really really hope spiderman isnt closed cuz thats my favorite ride :/

From Robert Niles on January 17, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Parades all come down to execution. Could be cool. Could be lame. No idea until we see some concept art, at least. But plenty of people love the Nick characters (and the Minions), so there's definitely an audience there for something well done.

From Daniel Etcheberry on January 17, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Maybe Obama decided to see his AA for a last time because a Romney AA could replace him next year.

From Dominick D on January 17, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Wait, Minion Mayhem was a video game, right? Anyways, it's good that Spiderman gets it's coat of paint before my AP expires.

From Bob Liebe on January 17, 2012 at 3:03 PM
I thought that the new lagoon makeover had something to do with the 100th anniversary! News sounds good all in all, but sad that there is no jaws/potter announcement.

From steve lee on January 17, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Love to hear about a new night show. Hopefully the folks at Universal have been paying attention to how much love World of Color has been getting.

Obviously I'm not implying that the two shows will be in the same league, but anything is a vast improvement over those horrid cinespheres.

Oh, and Morgan Freeman FTW.

From 24.92.210.111 on January 17, 2012 at 8:44 PM
I am most excited to see the new nighttime show at Universal. I hope it has the energy to rival the other park nighttime shows. Right now Illuminations at Epcot is my favorite. Hopefully if its a hit, then Islands of Adventure will add a nighttime show as well.

From Anon Mouse on January 18, 2012 at 11:39 AM
I'm sure that whatever Obama says, he'll have zero impact.

He vacations in Hawaii.

Not sure why his visit is only at Disney properties. It sends a mixed message. Orlando isn't just about Disney or the parks. I'm sure he won't be welcome at the space center where he shut down the Space Shuttle program.

From Manny Barron on January 18, 2012 at 11:13 PM
I bet that Despicable Me ride is going to be a family-pleasing ride this summer. I personally enjoyed the movie and I'm looking forward to some "minion mayhem".